New Year's Marketing Part 2

May 15, 2006

25 MARKETING IDEAS FOR THE NEW YEAR
By: Matt Michel

Sometimes we make things too hard. Here are some simple things you can do to boost your sales in the new year. Make it a new year’s resolution to implement one of these ideas each week during the month of January.

13. Give a business card to the manager of every business you patronize and ask for their business.

14. Encourage your employees to place company magnets or stickers on the backs of personal vehicles.

15. Make your fax cover page into a marketing flyer. Include a special fax promotion.

16. In your email, include a signature promoting your business.

17. Write an article for the local paper.

18. Send out a press release. Send one every time you hire a new employee. Send one every time you reach a milestone. Send one every time you perform a job of significance. Send one with seasonal consumer information.

19. Keep customers better informed about the status of their dispatch. Give them an ETA and revise it. Have you ever had a flight delayed? It’s far more tolerable to be given a departure time, almost any time, rather than TBA.

20. Guarantee something you already do. In what situations will you give money back? If you size something incorrectly, will you upsize it for free? Do your customers know? Tell them.

21. Create a unique selling proposition (USP) that states succinctly and lucidly what you do well, better than anyone else. Include this with all marketing material.

22. Boost your search engine placement by including a page of local Links. Be sure to ask everyone you Link to for a return Link (to the page of Links if nowhere else).

23. Use bounce back coupons. When you do business with someone, offer them a coupon for a dollars off discount from a future purchase.

24. Wish your customers a happy new year. On Thursday or Friday of this week, call your most important customers for no other reason than to wish them a safe, happy, and prosperous new year. It will make you stand out and it will generate business.

If you serve the residential market, have your staff call a random sample of your customers. They make think you’re a little odd, but they will also remember the call and possibly talk about it.